On a red field with only sparse patches of green, the Bidyadanga Emus donned their football boots at the team’s home stadium for the first time in two seasons.
Access restrictions to remote Aboriginal communities imposed at the start of the pandemic to stem the spread of COVID-19 were lifted last week.
The easing of the travel ban means that sporting and cultural activities in communities can return to normal, as visitors can now enter for non-essential reasons – and one of those is football.
Table of Contents
‘It feels good’
At a smoking ceremony at the start of the game, Elder Angelina Nanudie looked forward to celebrating football’s return to Karajarri country in Bidyadanga, about a two-hour drive south of Broome.
“I welcome the Cable Beach mob to play in my country,” she said.
“This is our first home game after COVID… it feels good.”
native soil
In the Kimberley – a region where Australian football is often compared to religion – the ability to host home games again has breathed new life into communities that have been largely isolated from the world.
Women’s coach Michael Martin said the return of home games has brought the whole community together after a long period of uncertainty.
“It just gave people a chance to forget all that [COVID-19] and come down and support their team and have fun.
“It’s also an opportunity now for men and women to represent their communities.”
The new normal
The restrictions imposed by the state government required visitors to obtain police permits to enter more than 200 communities between the Goldfields and Kimberley.
While state-level restrictions have been eased, individual municipalities can still apply their own restrictions on who can enter and why.
The Cable Beach Greenbacks’ Mick Albert said his side was happy with Broome’s last-minute trip as West Kimberley Football League teams returned to pre-pandemic games.
“We still weren’t sure if we were going to come down to play.
“We had to check who had cars and who had vacancies, and also do RAT tests.”
More than a game
Parish Nurse Latham Rogers took it upon herself to pick up elders from across the parish and bring them to the oval to make sure they didn’t miss the big game.
It’s something he’s been doing for eight years, but he says Saturday’s game had a special meaning.
“Often the oldies didn’t have a chance to come down to watch the games and stayed at home.”
Mr Rogers prepared plates of fresh, healthy food and served tea and coffee to the elders during the game.
“Whether grilling, sandwiches, fresh fruit, baking, we offer all of that here,” he said.
“That’s just part of our goodwill towards the community.
heart and soul
Elder Joseph Munroe, who once played for the Bidyadanga men’s team, enjoyed a sandwich while watching the game from a fold-out chair under the shade of a tree.
“It’s a nice feeling to see them play … really proud.”
Mr Munroe was delighted to be back cheering from the sidelines on home soil after so many away games he was unable to attend during the pandemic.
“It was really hard for us not to travel to Broome, to stay here in Bidyi, I waited until this COVID-19 was gone to see them play here at their home pitch and at Broome,” he said.